1. Chapter 8: Diversity Issues in Group Work
Introduction to Group Work, 5th Edition
Edited by David Capuzzi, Douglas R. Gross, and Mark D. Stauffer

2. Social Identity Groups
Social identity groups: a collection of people who share physical, cultural, or social characteristics within one of the categories of social identity
Categories
Race  Ethnicity
Gender  Sexual orientation
Socioeconomic status  Disability
Age  Religion

3. Multiculturalism & Diversity
Multiculturalism: the term used in relation to differences based strictly on race and ethnicity
Diversity: Aspects of difference among individual and groups

4. Elements of Diversity
Three elements that impact counseling and group work
Culture
Individual identity development
Relationships between social identity groups
Culture: characteristic values, behaviors, products, and worldviews of a group with a distinct sociohistorical context

5. Models of Identity Development
Racial/Cultural Identity Development Model
Conformity, Dissonance, Resistance/Immersion, Introspection, Integrative awareness
White Racial Identity Model
Contact, Progressive awareness, Attitudes, Personal responsibility, Shifting protective strategies, Autonomy.

6. Models of Identity Development
Oppression Model
Stereotypes: negative generalizations
Prejudice: judgments without adequate information or contact
Discrimination: behavior of individuals or institutions with differential/harmful effects
Privilege: unearned access to resources available to members of some groups

7. Key Points
Within each identity group category, specific identities are more esteemed and have more power than others in the context of a particular society.
Dominant or agent group: collection of social identities with more power
Target groups: social identity groups with less power

8. Cross-Cultural Competencies and Objectives
Counselor Self-Awareness
Without adequate awareness of stereotypes, biases, and culturally based reactions that are part of life as cultural beings, counselors will unknowingly view culturally different clients’ lives, issues, and interactions from their own, rather than clients’, perspectives.
Awareness of Client’s Worldview
While cultural identification can be seen as a person’s sense of belonging to a group, worldview is the sum total of his or her conceptions of the world that guide his or her meaning-making, decisions, and behavior.

9. Culturally Appropriate Counseling Skills
Relevant aspects of communication style
Proxemics (personal space)
Kinesics (movement)
Paralanguage (voice)
Low context (verbal content)
High context (shared understanding)

10. Groups as a Social Microcosm
Main diversity themes in groups
Power is distributed according to each person’s social role in group.
Power may be distributed according to numerical representation of social identity groups within the group.
Members of social agent groups may have more power than those of target groups.

11. Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors
Appropriate starting point for exploring diversity-sensitive group intervention
Provides framework for much of the group counseling conducted today
Pay attention to diversity and the differential effects on group members
Otherwise the therapeutic factors might be counterproductive for some group members

12. Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors
Instillation of hope
Universality
Imparting information
Altruism
Corrective recapitulation of family group
Development of socializing techniques
Imitative behavior
Interpersonal learning
Group cohesiveness
Catharsis
Existential factors

13. Diversity Concerns during the Definitive Stage
In a diverse group, acknowledgment of cultural differences in self-disclosure and expression of feeling is important.
Self-determined levels of participation must be respected.
Group members should be encouraged to tell their stories at their own pace.

14. Diversity Concerns during the Personal Involvement Stage
Because of increased levels of trust, group members may begin to express deeper differences.
Interactions may be challenging and there may be conflict.
For diverse groups, challenge and conflict may be focused on power relationships, bias, and feelings related to social identity.

15. Diversity Concerns during the Group Involvement Stage
Leaders of diverse groups should encourage members to explore the impact of diversity and culture on personal problem formation, problem resolution, and resiliency.

16. Diversity Concerns during the Enhancement and Closure Stage
For members of some social identity groups and cultures, the goal of transferring new behaviors to their everyday lives may be counter-productive or even dangerous.
Group members need to be encouraged to weigh potential consequences.

17. Impact of Diversity upon the Group Leadership Process
Customary approaches to the following may not be appropriate:
Goals
Group composition and screening
Pre-group orientation
Time and settings
Process goals and skills